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The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association will ring in the New Year at the bargaining table.

Any slim hope there’s going to be a shortened season in 2013 remained alive after NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr presented the union’s counter-proposal to the NHL Monday at the league’s headquarters on Sixth Avenue.

Unlike past offers the union has tabled, the league didn’t dismiss it out of hand. Instead, commissioner Gary Bettman told a throng of reporters standing amidst New Year’s revellers the league would offer up a response Tuesday.

Sources told the Sun the players did take a step in the direction of the owners with the offer they tabled but there are still large gaps that have to be bridged if there’s going to be a deal which is why the league wanted time to counter.

“Their response was comprehensive one dealing with a full slate of issues that we raised and proposals we put forth,” said Bettman. “We’re in the process of reviewing their response.

“We’re going to do that (Monday night) and our expectation is that we’ll contact them (Tuesday) and, hopefully, get back together by mid-day. We’re going to try to turn this around overnight so we can continue the process.”

But, the NHL and the NHLPA will have to move quick.

For the first time since the lockout started Sept. 15, Bettman confirmed the clock is indeed ticking to have at least a 48-game season. If there’s no CBA in place by Jan. 11, then there won’t be any season at all.

“What we’ve said is we need to drop the puck by Jan. 19th if we’re going to play a 48-game season,” said Bettman after approximately three hours of meetings. “We don’t think it makes any sense to play anything shorter than that.”

Talk has circulated if the two sides can get a deal in place by Jan. 5 then the NHL is prepared to have a 52-game season which would put more lost money in the players’ pockets, but Bettman wasn’t going to get involved in any of that talk.

“There have been reports on every subject and every possibility imaginable,” said Bettman. “We could do with a lot less speculation.”

After spending three days studying the nearly 300-page offer they received last Thursday from the NHL, the players gave the league back their demands but it’s well-known the union didn’t like every aspect of the offer from the league.

It’s believed the players would like the upper limit of the cap to be somewhere in the $65-to-$68 million range in 2013-14. The NHL proposed a $60 million cap, but it’s believed there could be some flexibility by the league in that area.

The contentious issue will be a desire by the NHLPA to have a cap on escrow. The players are concerned they’ll be paying more escrow because the revenues will fall short of the expectations from the damage of the lockout.

Those are among the main issues along with the term of the deal. The NHL wants a 10-year CBA with an opt-out for both sides after eight years and the other area that needs to be clarified is the contract-term limits.

Fehr refused to characterize or discuss the 26-page offer.

“Yes (the union made movement) but I’m not going to describe it beyond that,” said Fehr. “We covered the range of subjects their document included.”

Fehr maintained the two sides are “close” to a deal which is what he stated when talks broke down in an ugly fashion on Dec. 6 at the Westin Times Square.

“My view hasn’t changed from a month ago,” said Fehr, who added he expected to speak with league officials about any questions they had Monday night.

Given the fact the NHL has summarily rejected proposals by the union in 10 minutes in the past, this has to be some kind of sign progress was made doesn’t it?

“I’m not going to make any judgments about that. We’re just going to have to wait and see,” said Fehr.

At least the only ball that dropped on New Year’s Eve was in Times Square and not at the NHL headquarters.

NHL, players look to resolve woes in the New Year

The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association will ring in the New Year at the bargaining table.

Any slim hope there’s going to be a shortened season in 2013 remained alive after NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr presented the union’s counter-proposal to the NHL Monday at the league’s headquarters on Sixth Avenue.

Unlike past offers the union has tabled, the league didn’t dismiss it out of hand. Instead, commissioner Gary Bettman told a throng of reporters standing amidst New Year’s revellers the league would offer up a response Tuesday.